Blyth Brussels Crusaders ready themselves for Goderich's Young Canada Week
BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN
The playoffs continue for the Blyth Brussels Crusaders, with the 2024/2025 season winding down and spring around the corner.
The U11 LL team has two playoff wins and one loss thus far and are next in action tonight at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre, welcoming the Listowel Cyclones to the village.
The U11 Rep team has played eight playoff games so far, with no new contests on the schedule. The team won two and lost five, tying one.
Tomorrow, March 8, the U13 LL Crusaders will be back in playoff action, playing the Arthur Vipers on the road, followed by a March 9 game with the Rams in Mount Forest. This comes after the team has won three of its playoff games and lost two. In addition, the Crusaders were scheduled to play the Mount Forest Rams in Blyth on March 5, but a score for that game was unavailable at press time.
The U13 Rep Crusaders have three playoff wins and two losses in five games. They were due to play the Central Perth Predators next in Brussels last Tuesday, their last remaining game on the schedule, but a score for that game was unavailable at press time.
With two wins and one loss so far in the playoffs, the U15 LL Crusaders will continue their post-season play tonight with a game against the Huron-Bruce Blizzard in Lucknow and then welcome the Wingham Ironmen to Brussels on Saturday.
The U15 Rep team has lost all six of its playoff games, the most recent being a 6-1 defeat at the hands of the Huron-Bruce Blizzard in Ripley on March 3.
It’s been a mixed bag for the U18 LL team, with two wins, two losses and one tie in the playoffs. The team’s last game on the schedule was a contest with the Listowel Cyclones in Blyth on March 5, but a score for that game was unavailable at press time.
After winning their first game of the playoffs - a Feb. 20 game with the Ironmen in Wingham by a score of 3-1 - the U18 Rep Crusaders have lost four straight. They were due to be in action again on March 4, welcoming the Huron-Bruce Blizzard to Brussels, but a score for that game was unavailable at press time.
The U21 team will host the Huron-Bruce Blizzard tonight in Brussels, followed by a March 8 game with the Saugeen Valley Steelheads in Hanover and a March 9 game with the Mitchell Meteors in Blyth. This comes after winning one and losing four playoff games.
Looking ahead to this weekend, the U9 MD Crusaders will head to Elmvale for the annual Elmvale Maple Syrup Tournament, beginning with Friday, March 7 games with the Bruce Peninsula Predators and the Honeywood Hurricanes, followed by a game with the host Elmvale Coyotes the next day.
Also on March 8, there will be regular season games between the U7 Burgundy and White teams against two Huron-Bruce teams in Lucknow, followed by March 9 games between the U8 Burgundy and White teams against a pair of Mid-Huron Huskies teams in Seaforth and a home game for the U6 team, welcoming the Huron-Bruce Blizzard to Blyth.
On Sunday, March 9, the U9 LL team will be in Lucknow for the annual Ron Alton Tournament, playing the Arran Elderslie Ice Dogs and the host Huron-Bruce Blizzard.
Then, on Monday, March 10, as March Break begins, the U15 LL team will be in Goderich for the annual Young Canada Week in Goderich, beginning with a game against the Wingham Ironmen on Monday afternoon, followed by games with the Saugeen Valley Steelheads and the Ilderton Jets the next day.
Following Young Canada Week, the U7 Burgundy and White teams will head to Guelph to play one another at the Sleeman Centre during the Guelph Storm game against the Owen Sound Attack on Friday March 14, while the U11 Rep team will be in Huntsville for the annual Knights of Columbus Tournament.
Looking back at the regular season action of the week that was, the U9 LL team beat the Goderich Sailors Black team in Blyth by a score of 6-0 and the U9 MD team beat the Goderich Sailors White team by a score of 5-3, also on in Blyth, on March 3.
On Feb. 28, the U9 MD team beat the Owen Sound Junior Attack in Brussels by a score of 3-2 and the U8 White team played the Mid-Huron Huskies in Brussels, although a score was not kept for that game.
On Feb. 26, the U9 MD team was in Ripley to play the Huron-Bruce Blizzard and won by a score of 10-2. One day earlier, the U9 LL Crusaders shut out the Goderich Sailors Black team on the road by a score of 4-0.